Many adults and children have a difficult time swallowing a pill.The pill stays in your mouth until you spit it out because of the fear of gagging.There are various ways to approach the problem so that you can relax and overcome the fear of choking.To swallow a pill with ease, try taking it with soft food or plenty of liquid; if normal practices are ineffective, there are also a few special swallowing techniques you could try to help your throat remain open long enough for the pill to go down without trouble.If you still have trouble swallowing pills, talk to your doctor about taking your medication in a liquid, patch, or suppository.
Step 1: Eat bread.
If you can't get a pill to go down, try using a piece of bread.Take a small piece of bread and chew it.Take your pill and put it in the bread in your mouth.You can swallow the food with the pill inside.The pill should go down without a hitch.You can use bagels, crackers, and cookies as well.The pill can go down if the food is chewed.It will go down easier if you take a drink of water after.There are some medications that need to be taken with an empty stomach.If you need to take your medicine on an empty stomach, check the bottle of your medication.
Step 2: Cut a gummy bear.
You can put a pill inside a gummy bear.Cut a small pocket in the stomach of the gummy bear.Put the pill inside.If you chew the gummy bear, it will change the duration and timing of the medication.Once it's in your throat, drink your water.If you can't swallow the gummy bear, this may be difficult.It might take practice.The method is helpful for children.She will be less likely to take her medication if she has a gummy bear with her.
Step 3: You can put the pill in peanut butter.
The pill can be taken with honey or peanut butter to make it easier to swallow.Get a spoon full of food.The pill should be placed in the middle of the food on the spoon.Push it into the food.With the pill inside, swallow the honey or peanut butter.Use water to wash down.Before and after this method, you should drink water.The peanut butter and honey are thick and can take a while to go down.You can get the food down quicker by hydrating your throat.
Step 4: It's a good idea to try soft food.
If you can't take your pill with bread, try taking it in a soft food such as applesauce, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, or gelatin.Hospitals use this method for patients who have difficulty swallowing.A small dish of food can be made.Put the pill in the dish.Before you take the pill, you should eat a little of the food.Take the pill with you.When you swallow, it should go down easily.Don't chew in the pill.
Step 5: First, practice with small candy.
People find it difficult to swallow pills due to the fact that their throats reject the pill and tense up.If you want to overcome this, you can practice swallowing small candies to make sure you don't choke or get injured.You can take a sprinkle, a mini M&M, or a Nerd.If you want to take them with a drink of water, put them in your mouth.Continue until you are comfortable with this size.You move up to a larger candy such as a Skittle, regular M&M, Jelly Belly bean, or Tic Tac.When you feel comfortable, repeat the procedure with this size.You should practice swallowing a piece of candy that's the same size and shape as the pill for about 10 minutes a day.Children can work up to taking their medication.Explain that taking medication is serious and that pills shouldn't be seen as candy.
Step 6: You can eat mandarin oranges.
Try swallowing mandarin orange segments whole.Put your pill in an orange segment and swallow it whole once you're used to it.The mandarin orange's slimy texture will make it easy to swallow.After drinking water, make sure it goes down quickly.
Step 7: Drink cool water.
You need to make sure that your throat is hydrated when you take medication.If you want to take the pill, sip from your water a few times.Drink water and place the pill on the back of your tongue.After the pill is in your throat, take a few more gulps.The water should be cool but not hot.
Step 8: Try the two gulp method.
Put your pill on your tongue.If you want to take the pill, take a huge gulp of water.Take a second gulp of water and swallow the pill.To help the passage of the pill, take one last drink of water.The method opens up your throat with the first swallow, which makes it easier to swallow the pill on the second swallow.
Step 9: You can use a straw.
The pill can go down better if you use a straw to drink water or a beverage.The pill should be placed on the back of your tongue.Drink through a straw and take a pill.After you swallow the pill, keep drinking for a few sips.The pill is easier to swallow when the liquid is pulled through the straw.
Step 10: First, drink a lot of water.
A lot of water helps the passage of the pill.Take a sip of the water.To get the pill into your mouth, open the edge of your lip.Next, take a mouthful of water and a pill.You can drink more water if the pill feels in your throat.You need to fill 80% of your mouth with water.The method may be less effective if you overfill your mouth.You may be able to feel the pill in your throat.This is harmless and doesn't usually cause the gag reflex.This method can be used with drinks other than water.
Step 11: Help your child swallow a pill.
Children as young as 3 years old may have to take a pill.It may be difficult for your child to comprehend swallowing a pill at this age.Help them understand what is happening if this is the case.A simple way to help them swallow a pill is to give them a drink of water and tell her to hold it in her mouth while she looks up at the ceiling.Take the pill out of her mouth and put it in her throat.Tell her to swallow, and the pill should go down her throat.Unless it says otherwise, you can try any of the other methods with food or drink on your child.
Step 12: You can try the pop-bottle method.
There is a plastic bottle with water.Put the pill in your mouth.Close your lips around the opening of the water bottle.Take a drink of the water and put your head back.If you want to pull the water into your mouth, keep your lips lightly around the bottle opening.The water and pill should travel down your throat.When you take a drink, don't let air into the bottle.When using large tablets, this method is best.Your drink of water will open your throat and help you swallow the pill better.The method is not intended for children.Older people should not attempt this method.
Step 13: The lean-forward method can be used.
Put the pill on your tongue.Don't swallow the water just yet.With your chin up, tilt your head down.The capsule should float to the back of your mouth.It works best on pills in capsule form.This method can be tried on your child as well.After you slip the capsule in the side of her mouth, have her stare at the floor.She can swallow the pill and the water if it floats.
Step 14: Relax from time to time.
It is possible to prevent an individual from swallowing a pill.It is important to relax.You will have trouble swallowing the pill if you are anxious.You have to relax in order to prevent this.Take a glass of water and sit down.Listen to music that calms you, or meditate.Your body will be less likely to gag if you break the association of pill time being stressed.If you're having trouble, you can talk to a psychologist to get over your fear of taking a pill.If you are trying to help a child swallow a pill, make them feel comfortable by getting her mind off of the act before asking her to do it.Before she is asked to take the pill, she should read a story, play a game, or do something that relaxes her.She is more likely to take the pill if she is calmer.
Step 15: You should calm your fears.
If it is a large pill, you may be concerned that it won't fit down your throat.Stand in front of a mirror to help squash this fear.Say "ahhhhh" when you open your mouth.If you can see how wide your throat is, you should be able to fit a pill down it.You can put the pills on your tongue with a mirror.The shorter the ways it has to go before you swallow it, the farther back you put the pill.This can be done with a child who is afraid of choking.To convince her that there is nothing to fear, do it with her.
Step 16: You can find alternatives to pills.
Multiple forms of medications are available.You can get your medication in a liquid, patch, cream, suppository, or pill that is dissolved in water.If you have a hard time swallowing pills, talk to your doctor about your options.Unless your doctor says you can, don't take a pill and try to use it in other ways.Do not crush pills to make them dispersible or use a pill as a suppository that isn't supposed to be.Don't change the way you take your medication without consulting your doctor.